Chhota Rajan tried for political asylum in Zimbabwe before his arrest

Mumbai: The Maharashtra government is in the process of preparing a dossier over the deportation of underworld don Chhota Rajan, who was arrested in Bali, Indonesia. The dossier, which is necessary for completing the deportation process, will be submitted to the central government, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis told this newspaper on Thursday.

Reacting to the development over Rajan’s deportation, Mr Fadnavis said, “Originally, the Red Corner issued against him was done by the state government. To prove his involvement in criminal activities, we now need to prepare a dossier and send it to the Centre, which will play a crucial role in the deportation process.”

“It is in a particular format and that will be sent to the Central government soon. Once Rajan is deported back to the country, the state government will ask for his custody,” he added.

Ending a 28-year-old global manhunt, one of the most wanted gangsters in the country Rajendra Sadashiv Nikalje alias Chhota Rajan was arrested in the Indonesian resort island of Bali on a tip-off from the Australian Federal Police on Monday. The Central government has said that Rajan would be deported to India soon. He had been hiding in Australia for over a year and got in touch with Indian authorities four-five months ago.

According to sources, Rajan was making efforts to get political asylum in Zimbabwe before his arrest.

He even allegedly told the Bali police that his life would be in danger in India and had asked it to allow him to leave for Zimbabwe.

The CBI had issued a Red Corner Notice through Interpol against him in July 1995 on the request of the Mumbai police, which was probing cases against him. Rajan was arrested in Bali by a joint team of Australian and Indonesian police after arriving from Sydney on a passport in the name of Mohan Kumar.